Knicks' Luke Kornet impresses with career night in return to starting lineup

Kornet ties career high with 23 points

Dec 28, 2018 | 8:32AM

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New York Knicks forward Luke Kornet attempts to control the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and forward Khris Middleton defend in the third quarter at the Fiserv Forum. (Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports)

While Enes Kanter and Giannis Antetokounmpostole the show in Thursday's Knicks-Bucks matchup, second-year forward Luke Kornet impressed by scoring 23 points in his first start of the season.

Kornet, who also appeared in 10 G League games this season, tied his career high in 34 minutes, making his second start in his career in a 112-96 loss at Fiserv Forum.

"I'm trying to make the most of what I have and establish myself and gain confidence and do what I can to show coach I can keep it,'' Kornet said, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. "I'm hoping to help us win in this role.''

The 7-foot-1 Kornet made 8 of 17 field goals -- including 7 of 11 3-pointers -- and added five assists, three rebounds and one block. He started alongside Noah Vonleh while Kanter scored eight points off the bench.

"That's what I was hoping for, a guy that was going to space the floor for us,'' head coach David Fizdale said. "He opened up the floor for us to be able to attack the paint.''

Fizdale said his reasoning for inserting Kornet into the starting lineup was to see how well he played alongside rookie Kevin Knox, guard Emmanuel Mudiay and Vonleh, and believed Kornet executed the game plan well.

"I just thought going on the road, good time to look at a change and want to see how Mudiay, Kevin and even Noah operate in space,'' Fizdale said. "And I went back to our last win. That's what coaches do during a tough stretch. Luke was instrumental. Maybe we can duplicate it.''

In a night where the Knicks lost to the Jazz by 21 points, there isn't much good that came out of it. But Mitchell Robinson, who has been one positive out of a dismal season, made history on Wednesday night.

In a double-double performance (14 points, 12 rebounds), Robinson also collected three blocks as his rim protecting continues to be on display. And with them, Robinson recorded his 29th straight game with a block, breaking Knicks legend Patrick Ewing's franchise rookie record.

Oh, that's not all. Those three blocks moved Robinson's season total to 135, which also breaks Kristaps Porzingis' record for most blocks in a rookie season. While it's great to see the second-rounder rewriting the Knicks' record books, it isn't the ultimate goal for Robinson.

Knicks Takeaways from Wednesday's 137-116 loss to Jazz

Kevin Knox pours in 27 as New York's tank rolls on

By Scott Thompson | Mar 20 | 9:56PM

The Knicks lost 137-116 to the Jazz at home on Wednesday. It could've been worse, if it weren't for better play by NY in the second half.

The Knicks couldn't handle the Jazz on Wednesday night, losing 137-116 at Madison Square Garden for their second consecutive loss. >> Box score

Things to know about Wednesday's game...

1) The Knicks up themselves in an early rut, as the score was 39-35 at the end of the first quarter. When both teams went to the locker room, it was 74-47 which proved to be an insurmountable deficit in the end.

Knicks should hope D'Angelo Russell is the blueprint for Dennis Smith Jr.

Russell went from potential first-round bust to All-Star on a playoff team

By Jarod Hector | Mar 20 | 9:17PM

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(Andy Marlin)

"I've seen a lot of growth, really in all areas. Maybe the most important area, is as a team leader ... that said, the point guard is always going to have the most complex job of ball distribution, mixing in an aggressive attack, to score and set up playmaking opportunities. There's real nuance to all that stuff. But he's smart. He wants it, and I've really loved how he's played. He gets a little better every day."

Those were the words of Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle at the beginning of the season about his then-starting point guard, Dennis Smith Jr.

A lot has happened since then: uneven play from Smith, some immaturity, and the emergence of a rookie named Luka Doncic. Fast forward to today and Smith is now a member of the Knicks, on a completely gutted roster (or a young rebuilding one, at least) looking to find stable footing and develop into the player many thought he could be when Dallas selected him No. 9 overall in the 2017 draft.

The Jazz come to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks tonight, but New York will be without a few key contributors in this one.

The most notable is PG Dennis Smith Jr., who head coach David Fizdale said threw out his back. The team is expecting to re-evaluate him next week as he will likely miss at least three more games. The Knicks could deem Smith done for the season if the evaluation says so.

And that isn't the only guard the Knicks will be without. Allonzo Trier has a calf injury that will keep him out, while Frank Ntilikina isn't quite ready to return from his groin injury. Ntilikina practice with G-League Westchester on Tuesday, but he is expected to practice once again and be ready to make his awaited return this weekend.

Knicks PG Frank Ntilikina has finally been cleared to practice, and it couldn't have came at a better time.

According to the Daily News' Stefan Bondy, the 20-year-old former first rounder will be practicing with G-League Westchester on Tuesday as the Knicks are traveling back from Toronto following a 128-92 blowout on Monday night. Ntilikina has been sidelined for weeks with a groin injury, but if everything goes well at practice, he could be suiting up against the Jazz at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

That would be the best case scenario for Ntilikina, who needs these last 11 games of the season to prove he is still worth it to the Knicks. It doesn't look good for Ntilikina to stay in orange and blue next season, especially with new point guard Dennis Smith Jr. coming over from Dallas in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. The Knicks also have Allonzo Trier, Emmanuel Mudiay and Damyean Doston all under contract for 2019.

While making a play on the ball in the third quarter Monday night after the Raptors' Kyle Lowry secured the rebound, Knicks rookie Mitchell Robinson wound up falling on Lowry's ankle. Lowry left the game and didn't return, and wasn't happy about it after.

"I think it was a little bit dirty," Lowry said, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "He grabbed me, pulled me down. He's a young kid so I don't know if he did it on purpose or not, but I think he'll learn his lesson next time and be a little bit more careful."

Knicks fans' guide to March Madness

There are more players to watch than Zion Williamson

By David Vertsberger | Mar 19 | 9:00AM

Duke Blue Devils forward Zion Williamson and forward R.J. Barrett reacts after a basket by Williamson during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at Cameron Indoor Stadium. (Rob Kinnan/USA TODAY Sports)

The NCAA tournament bracket is set and March Madness officially begins Tuesday night. For Knicks fans, this means a chance to watch some of their potential future contributors compete on the biggest stage of college basketball. Here are the names to keep an eye on as we edge closer to one of the most important offseasons in New York hoops history.

The Core Four

The general consensus seems to have circled around the following four players as the top four selections in this year's NBA draft: Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish. Fans should be plenty aware of their names at this point, but if not, all outside of Morant are playing for No. 1 seed Duke, while Morant will get an opportunity to turn heads coming into the tournament with 12th-seeded Murray State. There isn't much convincing left to do with these names; they're clearly a tier above the other prospects, with Williamson of course having all but locked up the top selection. Knicks fans hope they see one of them in blue and orange next season.

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Knicks takeaways from Monday's 128-92 loss to the Raptors

Knicks shoot 33.3 percent from field

Mar 18 | 10:00PM

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New York Knicks guard Allonzo Trier tries to drive against Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol and guards Fred VanVleet and Jeremy Lin in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)

The Knicks shot 33.3 percent from the field and made just 8 of 36 3-pointers as they lost to the Toronto Raptors 128-92 on Monday at Scotiabank Arena. >> Box score

Things to know about Monday's game

1. While Allonzo Trier scored a game-high 22 points off the bench, the Knicks' starters combined for 44 points. Mario Hezonja and Kevin Knox combined to make 7 of 24 field goals.

2. The Raptors, who beat the Knicks by only five points when they last met on Feb. 9, outscored them 35-25 in the second quarter and 28-15 in the third, taking a 101-69 lead into the fourth quarter.

TV analyst was not pleased James was sitting away from huddle during timeout

Mar 17 | 2:40PM

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Nov 24, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Knicks color commentator and former player Walt Frazier broadcasts prior to a game between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports (Brett Davis)

LeBron James got himself a new public dissenter Sunday during the Knicks' 128-127 dramatic victory over the Lakers at Madison Square garden: Knicks legend and MSG color commentator Walt "Clyde" Frazier.

The gregarious analyst began his tear into James during a timeout in which the superstar was not congregating with teammates and plopped himself on the far end of the bench.

"This type of behavior is not -- when you're the face of the NBA, I think you should be more a part of your team, folks," Frazier said. "No matter what is going on, in the public, you got to be a part of the team. Maybe in the locker room you're not, but you have to exude that type of togetherness in public, folks. And right now we see he doesn't really care."

The Knicks and Lakers both entered Sunday's game stumbling toward the finish line but it was New York that snapped its eight-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, closing the game on a 13-1 run for a 124-123 come-from-behind win over LeBron James and the Lakers. >> Box score

Things to know about Sunday's game

1. Mario Hezonja was the unlikely hero for the Knicks. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, James drove to the basket on Hezonja but the 24-year-old guard stayed with him and stuffed him from getting the final shot off to secure the victory for the Knicks.

'Ban Dolan' shirts given to Knicks fans outside Madison Square Garden

The festive green shirts were not allowed into the arena by Garden security

By John Healy | Mar 17 | 12:29PM

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(Photo Courtesy of Daniel Stein)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, James Dolan.

The Knicks returned home from a road trip on Sunday and fans were ready to send a message to their iron-fisted owner a week after he banned a fan from Madison Square Garden for yelling at him to "sell the team."

LeBron James is expected to accompany the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon when the club plays the fourth contest of its five-game road trip against the New York Knicks.

Whether the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player will be wearing a Lakers' uniform or an expensive suit remains to be seen.

James sat out Los Angeles' 111-97 setback at Detroit on Friday due to what the team referred to as "load management" connected to the groin injury that sidelined him for a month earlier this season. The Lakers were playing the second half of a back-to-back set, with James logging nearly 32 minutes in the club's 111-98 loss to Toronto on Thursday.

On the same night the Knicks kept their tank rolling with an eighth straight loss, Zion Williamson dazzled once again.

In his second game back from a knee sprain, Williamson scored 31 points and made the game-winning basket with 31 seconds left to lift Duke to a 74-73 win over rival North Carolina, putting the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament final. Williamson sunk a putback off his own missed shot to give Duke the lead.

The Knicks finished their three-game road trip with yet another loss, falling to the Spurs, 109-83. They've lost eight straight and own an NBA-worst 13-56 record. >> Box score

Things to know about Friday's game

1. Noah Vonleh suffered a right ankle injury in the middle of the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. He had four points and an assist in 8:44 of action. The Knicks entered the game without Dennis Smith Jr., who was out with a back injury.

Knicks finish road trip against Spurs at 8:30 p.m.

New York takes seven-game losing streak into San Antonio

Mar 15 | 7:27PM

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Mar 10, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports (Jesse Johnson)

The Knicks (13-55) head to South Texas on the heels of 103-98 loss at Indiana on Tuesday. New York has dropped seven consecutive games since beating San Antonio and Orlando for a modest two-game win streak late last month.

Emmanuel Mudiay led the Knicks with 21 points off the bench in the loss, with Damyean Dotson scoring 18, Kevin Knox adding 16 points and DeAndre Jordan hitting for 12 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

"We fought the whole game and made some good runs, they made a run, but we didn't give up," Knox said. "They just made some plays late."

After missing three weeks with a knee sprain, Zion Williamson made an emphatic return to Duke's lineup on Thursday night.

The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft looked like he hadn't missed a beat, scoring 29 points and going a perfect 13-for-13 from the field in Duke's 84-72 win over Syracuse in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.

"I come ready to kill every game," Williamson said in an ESPN television interview after the game.

Porzingis has resorted to video games to keep competitive juices flowing

Mar 13 | 10:20PM

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Porzingis says he's 'ready'00:00:33

Dallas Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis looks to be very mobile on the practice court and is ready to go up against some competition.

It has nearly been a month since the Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks in the biggest blockbuster deal of the NBA trade deadline. And though Porzingis hasn't talked about the whole situation yet, he did talk about wanting to get back on the court.

The 7-foot-3 Latvian is still working his way back to game action, and he has been seen down in Dallas working on his jumper and post moves with trainers as his rehab continues. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has said that Porzingis won't be suiting up as the regualr season comes to a close, but that doesn't mean the All-Star doesn't think he is ready to go.

"I feel healthy, I feel great," Porzingis said at Mavericks practice on Wednesday. "I'm antsy to get back on the court as soon as possible and I know I'm ready. So we'll see, I don't know."

During a television interview Tuesday night with TNT, Porzingis -- who was traded to the Dallas on Jan. 31 -- praised the Mavericks organization and painted it as a more stable environment than the one he had been in with the Knicks.

"There's a culture. You can feel that," Porzingis said. "Guys like Dirk (Nowitzki,) like JJ (Barea,) they've built that culture and they're a really important part of this organization. Just seeing all those great personalities being in this organization, being a part of this culture, makes me want to be a part of it."

NBA exec: James Dolan is why free agents avoid Knicks

Mar 13 | 9:48AM

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( Adam Hunger)

James Dolan still can't get out of his own way, as he proved once again during a radio interview on Tuesday, and it begs the question: Why would any marquee free agent would want to join the Knicks and play for this man?

Dolan couldn't get LeBron James or Dwayne Wade in 2010, and he is the same man in 2019 as he was then.

Dolan added "Just for the record, I'm not selling the team."

Mar 12 | 6:28PM

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Feb 8, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks owner James Dolan watches during the fourth quarter between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Knicks owner James Dolan joined ESPN's "The Michael Kay Show" on Tuesday to clarify the situation that occurred on Saturday night where a Knicks fan yelled "Sell the team!" toward Dolan, who decided to throw the fan out of Madison Square Garden for good.

And that is exactly what will happen to this fan after Dolan found out the confrontation was pre-meditated.

"It appears that this gentleman and his friends planned to do this," Dolan said. "As soon as they were done with it, it was immediately sold to TMZ."

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James Dolan says he knows free agents want to play for Knicks

'From what we've heard, we're going to have a very successful offseason'

Knicks owner James Dolan made a rare radio apperance on Tuesday, joining ESPN Radio's The Michael Kay Show where he addressed a number of topics, including free agency.

The Knicks are expected to be major players in this summer's free agent sweepstakes, but there is always some doubt on whether or not they are attractive enough of a destination for players who want to win.

Dolan reiterated Porzingis came to the Knicks wanting a trade

Mar 12 | 7:38PM

When Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Mavericks before the NBA trade deadline, it sent shockwaves through the NBA as the Knicks sent away their face of the franchise. But the Knicks stated that Porzingis wanted to be traded, saying he was unhappy in New York.

Speaking on ESPN's "The Michael Kay Show" on Tuesday to discuss the incident this weekend at MSG regarding a Knicks fan, Knicks owner James Dolan also touched on the Porzingis traded briefly as well. Though he didn't want to speak for Porzingis, who still hasn't discussed his "stay woke" comment or told his side of the story since the trade, Dolan said the Latvian big man basically left the team no choice.

"I thought our guys tried really hard to integrate him in our system," Dolan said. "I don't want to put words into his mouth. When he came in and said to us, 'I wanted to be traded' that sort of cast the dye on what we had to do."

New York heads to Indiana on a six-game losing streak after starting a three-game road trip with a 103-92 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. The Knicks are on their fourth skid of at least six games.

New York also has scored less than 100 points in three straight games and in 11 of its last 21 games. The Knicks also dropped to 0-20 when scoring less than 100 points after shooting 43 percent and committing 17 turnovers Sunday.

Damyean Dotson scored 26 points but most of New York's struggles were around the rim and in the paint. The Knicks were 20-for-48 in the paint and were 17-for-36 on layups and dunks. >> Read More

Knicks coach David Fizdale comes to James Dolan's defense after recent events

Owner has come under fire for treatment of fans after recent altercation at Madison Square Garden

Mar 12 | 2:44PM

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New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale reacts during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

James Dolan has at least one backer in his corner: David Fizdale.

The Knicks head coach defended the team's embattled owner Tuesday when asked about Dolan's personality, which has recently created headlines due to an altercation with a fan at Madison Square Garden on Saturday that resulted in Dolan having the fan removed and threatening to ban him from future games.

Mario Hezonja's brief tenure as a Knick has been mostly underwhelming, but the 6-foot-8 Croatian does not plan finishing out the 2018-19 season on a selfish note.

With free agency pending for the 2015 fifth overall pick, he was adamant that he will not hog all of the shots down the stretch to boost his stats and perhaps give himself more opportunities this summer.

I don't give a s--t that I'm a free agent,'' Hezonja told Marc Berman of the New York Post. "I'm trying to help these guys as well. I don't give a sh-t about myself. I'll be fine. Trust me. I'll be fine. With my basketball skill, talent and abilities, I'll always be fine. I just want to help these guys with stuff I've been through in my career in both Europe and here."

Knicks legend Charles Oakley was critical of James Dolan after the franchise owner threatened to ban a fan from Madison Square Garden.

"He just tries to bully everybody and it just don't make sense," Oakley, who was temporarily banned from Madison Square Garden in 2017 when he had an altercation near Dolan, told the Associated Press on Monday.

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Latest on Knicks target Kyrie Irving: Star apologizes for how he's handled himself

The potential of Kyrie and Kevin Durant joining the Knicks has never been higher

If there's a silver lining to be found in this 13-54 Knicks season, it's in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery and development of the young core

Fans can feel genuine excitement over some of the fresh talent their franchise collected. A few of these guys fulfilling their potential as useful NBA starters and even All-Stars is critical to this rebuild, and we're getting a clearer picture of where they have to go and how far they are from getting there. Here are the NBA players each Knicks prospect (24 and younger) should model their game after going forward:

Mitchell Robinson - Rudy Gobert

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Knicks takeaways from Sunday's 103-92 loss to the Timberwolves

Knicks' losing streak reaches six games

Mar 10 | 10:13PM

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New York Knicks guard Damyean Dotson drives to the basket and shoots a layup past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie in the first half at Target Center. (Jesse Johnson/USA TODAY Sports)

The Knicks' losing streak reached six games as New York lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-92 on Sunday at Target Center. >> Box score

Things to know about Sunday's game

1. Damyean Dotson scored 26 points while DeAndre Jordan was limited to just two points on 1-of-8 shooting as New York maintained its spot for last place in the NBA. Mitchell Robinson blocked five shots.

2. Taj Gibson led the Timberwolves, who were playing without Karl-Anthony Towns, with 25 points. Jeff Teague scored 20 points and recorded 10 assists.

Knicks' Frank Ntilikina making progress from groin injury

Ntilikina to be re-evaluated after Knicks' road trip

Mar 10 | 9:03PM

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New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. (Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports)

Knicks second-year guard Frank Ntilikina is improving from a groin injury that has kept him out since January and will be re-evaluated once New York returns from its three-game road trip, the team announced.

Ntilikina, who last played Jan. 27, has missed the Knicks' last 18 games entering Sunday's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Knicks expect Ntilikina, 20, to improve his on-court activity and controlled contact this week.

And his most damning evidence revolves around the Knicks coaching search in 2014, when the team hired Derek Fisher after being connected to Warriors coach Steve Kerr. From Berman:

According to multiple sources, Dolan's reputation may have cost them Steve Kerr as head coach. Kerr's kinder feelings toward Warriors ownership contributed to his reneging on a verbal offer from Phil Jackson. During the Knicks' courting process, Kerr called a handful of Knicks reporters to seek their opinions of Dolan's influence.

A little over two weeks ago, Karl-Anthony Towns missed the first game of his career and the Minnesota Timberwolves found a way to beat the New York Knicks.

The Timberwolves may be forced to play without Towns again -- this time due to a right knee injury -- Sunday night when they host the Knicks.

Towns missed the Feb. 22 game against the Knicks, due to being placed in the concussion protocol after getting into a car accident in Minneapolis on the way to the airport. The Timberwolves recorded a 115-104 win.

The Knicks extended their most recent losing streak to six games on Saturday, falling to the Sacramento Kings in a matinee at Madison Square Garden, 102-94. > Box Score

Things to know about Saturday's game

1) The Knicks had absolutely no answer for Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox. The 21-year-old finished with 30 points, eight assists and five rebounds. After the Knicks took a brief 89-87 lead with six minutes remaining in the game, Fox responded by scoring 13 of the Kings' final 16 points en route to close out the victory for Sacramento.

Since Dennis Smith Jr. has joined the Knicks, Frank Ntilikina has become even more of an afterthought. Head coach David Fizdale has tasked Smith with being a vocal leader for the squad despite this only being his sophomore season, and Emmanuel Mudiay has been relieving him off the bench.

Ntilikina has been trying to work back from a groin injury, but he still isn't expected to make an impact at point guard once he returns. Fizdale wants to use him more as a wing player, and has even flirted with the idea of him playing power forward as well. And when Jason Kidd was brought in down in Phoenix by Fizdale, only Smith and Mudiay were close to his teachings with Ntilikina looking on, fortifying the notion that he won't be the floor general anytime soon.

But, with 17 games left on the Knicks' schedule, Ntilikina's health is reeling at the wrong time. And that isn't good if their reported plan involving the former first-rounder is true.

The 2018-19 Knicks' losing ways can turn fans off from keeping up with their team's doings in what's little more than a meaningless final two months of play. With the summer comes hope for a franchise desperately in need of some postseason success, in the form of names like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. As the promise of a competitive future or continual misery awaits, here are four potential lineups New York may employ come October.

DREAM LINEUP

WATCH: How did Knicks Gaming pull off 2K League title win last season?

New 2K League draftees talks Knicks Gaming at first league draft

Mar 8 | 2:29PM

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Knicks Gaming looks to repeat00:01:55

Knicks Gaming has the claim of World Champs. With the 2019 draft concluded, a new season is underway. Can the NY squad repeat as champs?

In last year's inaugural NBA 2K League, Knicks Gaming pulled off the ultimate upset by capturing the title.

So how exactly did a team that went 5-9 in the regular season pull this off? The new draftees of the 2K League answered that question on Wednesday at the Barclays Center, and the common theme of those answers revolved around the team's chemistry reaching its peak at just the right time...

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Knicks Takeaways from Wednesday's 107-96 loss to Suns

New York owns the No. 1 lottery slot once again with the loss

Mar 7 | 12:25AM

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The Knicks officially own the worst record in the NBA after the Suns took them down 107-96 on the road Wednesday night. >> Box score

Things to know about Wednesday's game

1) In this battle of the worsts, it was Devin Booker that shined above the rest for Phoenix. He dropped a whopping 41 points on 14-for-23 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 mark at the free throw line. Booker also dished out four assists, collected five boards, and had two steals and one block. It was a true All-Star performance from the Kentucky product.

Knicks and Suns face off in battle for NBA's worst record at 9 p.m.

New York is half a game back of Phoenix for No. 1 slot in lottery

Mar 6 | 8:00PM

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(Adam Hunger)

The Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks will square off Wednesday night in Arizona in a rare late-season battle of the two teams vying for the worst record in the NBA.

But the Suns will be coming off a rarer and more noteworthy accomplishment. Both teams were off Tuesday after playing Monday, when the visiting Knicks fell to the Sacramento Kings 115-108, and the host Suns stunned the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks, 114-105.

Monday's results were notable for two reasons. The Knicks (13-51) moved past the Suns (14-51) in the "race" for the NBA's worst record, though they are both in position to have the same odds of winning the draft lottery on May 14. The teams with the three worst records will all have a 14 percent chance of coming out of the lottery with the top pick, and the opportunity to select Duke star Zion Williamson. >> Read More

Latest on Knicks target Kevin Durant: Warriors worried he has 'one foot out the door'

The potential of Durant and Kyrie Irving joining the Knicks has never been higher

Jan 28, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts by pounding on his chest after making a play against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports (Brian Spurlock)

Warriors star Kevin Durant can be a free agent after the season, and the idea that he could team up with fellow free agent Kyrie Irving on the Knicks this summer has picked up steam since the Kristaps Porzingis trade cleared two max slots for New York. Here are the latest rumors...